Background: Although schizophrenia patients have been reported to manifest deficits in cognitive flexibility and lower processing speed (measured with i.a., the Color Trails Test, CTT), there still remain a few matters that require further investigation. We have therefore formulated three research aims: 1) to examine the factor structure of CTT in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls, 2) to compare different CTT performance measures in the two groups, 3) to investigate the relationship between these measures and selected psychopathological symptoms in the patient group.
Methods: Sixty-seven patients with paranoid schizophrenia and 67 healthy controls, matched for gender, age, number of years of education, and overall cognitive functioning underwent assessment of cognitive flexibility and processing speed with the CTT.
Results: Factor analysis of CTT variables based on the principal component method revealed a four-factor solution in both groups. Compared with healthy controls, the patients performed poorer on CTT 1 time, CTT 2 time, 2-1 difference, prompts in CTT 2, and had higher regression factor scores for Factor 1 (reflecting the slower speed of perceptual tracking). Furthermore, significant links were found between some CTT measures, and negative and disorganization symptoms.
Conclusions: Schizophrenia patients exhibit problems with speed of perceptual tracking and executive processes dependent on processing speed. Our results may be useful for the development of neuropsychological diagnostic methods for schizophrenia patients. It seems that, compared to other CTT indices, CTT 1 time, CTT 2 time, and 2-1 difference are more appropriate measures of cognitive performance in schizophrenia patients.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7296107 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00521 | DOI Listing |
Adv Ther
January 2025
Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Introduction: Daily oral antipsychotics (OAPs) are the mainstay of schizophrenia treatment; however, long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) are associated with better treatment adherence and improved outcomes.
Methods: This study assessed the real-world comparative effectiveness of LAIs and daily OAPs using claims data from a nationally representative sample of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries with schizophrenia. Antipsychotic discontinuation, psychiatric hospitalization, and treatment failure were compared relative to different reference groups using within-individual Cox regression models.
Neuromolecular Med
January 2025
Department of Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Interleukin 6 (IL6) is an inflammatory biomarker linked to central and peripheral nervous system diseases. This study combined bioinformatics and statistical meta-analysis to explore potential associations between IL6 gene variants (rs1800795, rs1800796, and rs1800797) and neurological disorders (NDs) and brain cancer. The meta-analysis was conducted on substantial case-control datasets and revealed a significant correlation between IL6 SNPs (rs1800795 and rs1800796) with overall NDs (p-value < 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBJPsych Bull
January 2025
Institute of Mental Health, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
At-Risk Mental State (ARMS) services aim to prevent the onset of first-episode psychosis (FEP) in those with specific clinical or genetic risk markers. In England, ARMS services are currently expanding, but the accessibility of this preventative approach remains questionable, especially for a subgroup of FEP patients and those from specific ethnic minority communities. This commentary outlines the key debates about why a complimentary approach to psychosis prevention is necessary, and gives details for an innovative public health strategy, drawing on existing research and health prevention theory.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJpn J Nurs Sci
January 2025
Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai-shi, Japan.
Aim: Self-stigma is a major factor preventing the recovery of individuals with schizophrenia. Psychosocial interventions can reduce self-stigma, and mental health nurses may play a crucial role in leading them, but little is known about the modifiable factors that should be targeted. We aimed to investigate the association between self-stigma and self-compassion in patients with schizophrenia from admission to the first follow-up after discharge.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCan J Psychiatry
January 2025
Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Objectives: To establish whether the risk of psychotic disorders in cannabis users changes with time following cannabis cessation using data from the European Network of National Networks studying Gene-Environment Interactions in Schizophrenia (EU-GEI) case-control study.
Methods: The EU-GEI case-control study collected data from first episode psychosis patients and population controls across sites in Europe and Brazil between May 2010 and April 2015. Adjusted logistic regressions were applied to examine whether the odd of psychosis case status changed: (1) with time following cannabis cessation and (2) across different cannabis use groups.
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!